A total of 59 new Gardaí have been assigned to the Louth Garda Division since recruitment resumed in 2014.

A total of 59 new Gardaí have been assigned to the Louth Garda Division since recruitment resumed in 2014.

That’s according to figures supplied by Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan to local TD Declan Breathnach last week.

It was also revealed that there were 298 Gardaí working in Co Louth at the end of May with 136 of those based in Dundalk.

This is a fall of five from the 141 Gardaí based in Dundalk last December when figures were at a five year high. Across the 13 stations, the number of Gardaí working in the county was also down four from 302 last December.

Drogheda has gained three Gardaí in the past six months, up from 95 to 98 since last December.

Amongst the local stations to have lost Gardaí in the past six months include Carlingford and Hackballscross, both of which fell from five to four